R.I.P Jennifer Finch / Live Reviews: Local H, Toadies, L.A. Guns / CD & Vinyl Pickups (VIDEO)

Today is a bit of a catch all video with some announcements, some live concert reviews, some vinyl and CD pickups, and much more.

Obviously, I had to note the recent death of Jennifer Finch of L7. She died far too young. F$%k Cancer.

The 90s Alt-Country Revolution: The Music That Changed Americana // Against The 90s

Alternative rock may have dominated the headlines in the 1990s, but another musical revolution was quietly taking shape. Long before Americana became a Grammy category or artists like Jason Isbell and Tyler Childers became household names, a generation of musicians was blending country, folk, rock, punk, and roots music into something entirely new.

In this episode of Against The 90s, Dave and Marq explore the rise of Alt-Country and Americana—the artists who rejected Nashville conventions while embracing the storytelling traditions of classic American music. From influential pioneers to forgotten classics, they discuss the records that helped define one of the decade's most enduring musical movements.

Whether you discovered these records when they were new or you're hearing them for the first time, this episode celebrates a movement that proved some of the best music of the 1990s didn't come from Seattle—or Nashville.

What are your favorite alt-country or Americana albums from the '90s? Let us know in the comments!

Single of the Week: Deep Sea Diver "Tear Drop"

 

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L7's Jennifer Finch Diagnosed with Brain Cancer

 

Just heard the sad news about Jennifer Finch of L7 being diagnosed with brain cancer. She is one of a kind, and is such an important person in my musical history. There is a GoFundMe to raise money for Jennifer's medical care. If you can spare a few bucks, please donate.

https://gofund.me/e916e39c8

Single of the Week: Dinosaur Jr. - "Several Got Away"

 

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Riki Rachtman Discusses The Lasting Impact of Headbagers Ball

Check out this clip from our interview with Riki Rachtman! We asked whether he thought that Headbangers Ball changed the culture of the 80s or captured the culture of the 80s.

Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/BPjSJxp5u4Y?si=tSEOixyk-XvV_GQ9

 

Rock of Aging: The Riki Rachtman Interview// Headbangers Ball, One Foot in the Gutter, The Cathouse

In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika speak to Riki Rachtman, the legendary host from MTV's Headbangers Ball. Everyone watching this episode grew up watching Riki every Saturday night -- he introduced us to the bands, the videos, and the scenes throughout the world of heavy metal. 

But Riki is much more than the host of a great TV show that we grew up watching. He has opened and ran the legendary Hollywood nightclub, The Cathouse, worked in radio, NASCAR, podcasting, and is currently on tour with a spoken word show called, "One Foot in the Gutter." The multimedia show finds Riki recounting stories from his lengthy career and exciting life.

The 80s Vinyl Tag 2026 // 20 Questions About 80s Music

Here's my contribution to Crackin' Vinyl's (‪@CrackinVinyl‬) 20 question 80s Music Vinyl Tag.

Single of the Week: Julia Jacklin "Get Away From Me (I Think I'll Love You Soon)"

 

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Rock of Aging: Merch Madness – The Glory Days of 80s Metal Concert Merch

Before online stores, limited-edition drops, and social media ads, there was one place to get the coolest band merchandise: the merch table at the concert.

In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika take a nostalgic trip back to the golden age of 80s metal merch. From overpriced concert t-shirts and tour programs to posters, buttons, patches, bandanas, and everything in between, we remember what it was like to stand in line before the show and decide how much of our allowance (or paycheck) we were willing to sacrifice for a piece of rock and roll history.

We'll discuss:

The first concert shirts we ever bought

Why concert merch felt so special in the 1980s

The must-have items beyond t-shirts

Tour books, posters, patches, buttons, and other forgotten collectibles

The bands that had the best merch

Regrets over the merch we didn't buy

Vintage merch prices then vs. what collectors pay today

The legendary parking lot bootleg shirt sellers

Why wearing a concert shirt was a badge of honor

We'll also share some of our favorite merch memories and talk about the items we wish we had never thrown away.

Whether you spent your weekends at arena shows, haunted record stores looking for band posters, or still have a drawer full of faded concert tees, this episode is a celebration of one of the most fun parts of being an 80s metal fan.

Rock of Aging Appears On The Youth Gone Mild Podcast

Dave and Erika recently appeared on the Youth Gone Mild Podcast. We spoke with Gen X Joe about the state of 80s metal, Sebastian Bach joining Twisted Sister, which 80s bands still "bring it" live, and so much more. Thanks, Joe, for having us.

Find Youth Gone Mild: https://www.instagram.com/youthgonemildpc

90s Artists We Hated That We Love Now (And Vice Versa) || Against The 90s : A 90s Music Podcast

We all have musical opinions that don't age very well.

In this episode of Against The 90s, Dave and MarQ revisit some of the artists they couldn't stand during the 1990s—but somehow ended up appreciating years later. Was it changing tastes? Maturity? Or did these artists deserve more credit than we gave them at the time?

But it goes both ways.

Each of us also reveals one artist we absolutely loved back in the '90s that just doesn't connect with us anymore. Some favorites don't survive the test of time, and we're not afraid to admit it.

Join us as we talk about changing perspectives, musical redemption, and the artists that prove our younger selves didn't always get it right.

What artists have you changed your mind about?

I Finally Crossed Joe Jackson Off My Bucket List! My Review + My (Incomplete) Collection (VIDEO)

This week, I crossed one off the ol' bucket list!  For years, seeing Joe Jackson live was one of those concerts I hoped would happen someday. After decades of listening to albums like Look Sharp!, I'm the Man, Night and Day, and so many others, I finally got the chance to see Joe Jackson in concert.

This was Jackson's first ever performance in Omaha. In this video, I share my thoughts on the show, the setlist, the atmosphere, and whether the experience lived up to all those years of anticipation. Did Joe Jackson still deliver? Was it worth the wait?

If you're a longtime Joe Jackson fan—or just curious about what his concerts are like today—join me as I look back on a truly memorable night.

My Interview with Jason Narducy (Bob Mould, Superchunk, Split Single, Sunny Day Real Estate)

This episode features my interview with musician Jason Narducy. He is probably best known as a member of Bob Mould's band, as well as for playing with Superchunk, Sunny Day Real Estate, and his own bands, Verbow and Split Single. He also has a project with actor, Michael Shannon, where they cover the music of R.E.M. 

Jason recently conducted a solo, "living room" tour where he performs intimate shows inside of fan's homes. In advance of his appearance in Omaha, I spoke to Jason for a piece on my radio show, New Day Rising. After the piece aired and I caught Jason's show (which was awesome, btw), I realized that  I had about 20 minutes or so of interview that was left on the cutting room floor. And here we are...

Here is the full interview I conducted with Jason along with some clips and photos from his solo show, and from recent appearances with Bob Mould and Superchunk. Hope you dig it.

Rock of Aging: The Lost Art of Making the Perfect 80s Metal Mixtape (VIDEO)

In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika reminisce about the lost art of making the perfect mixtape. Nobody who wasn't alive back in the 80s can relate. 

Whether you're recording your favorite songs from the radio for repeated playback, making a soundtrack for a road trip, trying to "turn on" a friend to some cool music, or trying to get the attention of a girl in your homeroom class, there are some basic rules you need to follow if you want to make a good mixtape. 

What's a good first song? Do the songs flow into one another smoothly or abruptly? How do you end Side A or begin Side B? What's a good closer? We offer up our best suggestions for making the ultimate 80s metal mixtape.

Dave & Erika then battle it out for the title of mixtape champion! We each created a 60 minute, 80s metal mixtape for you to review and compare. Then you must vote on who made the better tape!